Selva Grill

Triologia (Ceviche): white fish with aji amarillo, tuna in ginger sauce, Ecuador shrimp
Inca Cod
Skirt Steak
Flan with banana chutney and caramelized bananas

For our Protagonist and his dining partner, the trio of ceviche was a very tempting opening, but they had the best one first; the white fish in the creamy-garlicky aji amarillo.  White fish never had it better.  Ecuador shrimp in a citrusy sauce was a nice turn for second, but not enough to wipe out the memory of the first one.  Tuna in ginger sauce rounded out the trio, being the Asian-inspired part of the lineup.  A superior order would have been the following: Tuna, shrimp, white fish.

Inca Cod was as beautiful to look at as was to eat (actually, everthing was wonderfully presented); the cod was cooked with the spicy tomato sauce, chorizo, and rice in a banana leaf very similar to the Cochinata Pibil that our Protagonist loves so much; flavors were excellent, portion was perfect.  On the side, three skewers of roasted Cuzco corn impaled a lemon half, as though a miniature Picador  had slain a lemon-bull.  But the real star was the fascinating sauce mixture in the center of the plate; the transluscent colors of some idealized orchard fruit with the faintest outline of balsamic vinegar looked for all the world as though a suncatcher had been placed in the center of the plate.  A barely orange mango sauce peaked out on one edge, with a limey green on the other side, and a marmalade-y glaze dominated the center.  Stealing a plantain from the dining partner's plate was well worth it; perfectly caramelized, fork tender.  The Skirt Steak, however, was deemed off-limits, which attests to its own deliciousness. 

On recommendation, the grand finale was the flan accompanied by different preparations of bananas; the chutney would have made the best peanut butter-and-banana sandwiches ever, and the caramelized bananas were just kissed with brown sugar.  The flan was small but with wonderful texture.  Vanilla ice cream on the side was rather plain, especially accompanying a vanilla flan; perhaps banana ice cream would have been a better choice?  But this was the only blemish.  So many good menu choices; our Protagonist looks forward to returning in the not-too-distant future.

Selva Grill
1345 Main Street
Sarasota, FL 34236
941-362-4427